International community condemns Israel's interception of Gaza aid flotilla
Al Jazeera Staff
International condemnation has followed Israel's interception of 22 aid vessels bound for Gaza. Organizers say 211 activists were detained, including a Paris city councilor. Countries like Italy, Spain, and Turkey decried the action as illegal and inhumane.
On April 30, organizers of the second Global Sumud aid flotilla announced that Israel had intercepted 22 of 58 vessels carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians under blockade in the Gaza Strip. The ships were reportedly traveling in international waters, having departed from the port of Barcelona, Spain, on April 12.
According to the organizers, Israeli forces detained 211 of 400 activists aboard the flotilla, including a member of the Paris City Council. Israel's Foreign Ministry earlier stated that only 175 people had been detained. The interception occurred on the evening of April 29 (local time), hundreds of miles from Greece's Peloponnese peninsula.
Global reactions:
Italy: The Italian government demanded Israel immediately release Italian citizens aboard the ships and condemned the seizure of the Global Sumud flotilla. Italy also called for respect for international law and for the physical safety of those on board, reaffirming it would continue humanitarian aid to Gaza under international cooperation frameworks.
Spain: Spain's Foreign Ministry issued a statement 'strongly condemning' Israel's action, as Spanish citizens were on board. Madrid summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires to protest the detention of the vessels.
Turkey: Turkey's Foreign Ministry called Israel's action 'an act of piracy' and a violation of humanitarian principles and international law, targeting a flotilla whose mission was to draw attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Hamas: The Palestinian group Hamas condemned the interception, asserting that Israel had committed a crime with impunity and called for the release of those detained.
Israel: Israel's Foreign Ministry described the flotilla organizers as 'professional provocateurs.' It said Israeli forces acted lawfully, given the large number of vessels and the risk of escalation, arguing that early action was necessary to prevent breaking a blockade deemed legal under international law.
